DOVER — An international trip gave City Planner Chris Parker a chance to learn how to implement urban agricultural strategies closer to home.

In November, Parker was one of 400 people — eight from the Granite State — to attend a conference in Cuba and learn more about the practice of urban agriculture. Parker was among several city planners nationwide to participate. Overall, representatives from 39 countries took part.

Parker said the conference was an opportunity for him to learn more about a subject that has interested him for several years. The City of Dover currently has a community garden, about a half-acre of space located off Sixth Street, where participants grow mostly vegetables. He said he hopes his time in Cuba will help him find innovative ways to encourage others to participate in this unusual brand of farming.

“I wanted to learn more about urban agriculture, community gardens and ways the community can be more self-reliant,” Parker said.

According to Parker, the city has been working to boost participation at the community garden. Parker said community building is one of the major benefits of this type of garden, which promotes self-sustainability and a more efficient use of land.

“There are a lot of different, very simple, cost-effective things to promote agricultural growth,” Parker said. “People think, ‘I can’t do that.’ The more you learn, the more you realize it is something you can do.”

Parker said one of the best parts of his trip was the chance to see examples of urban agriculture in Cuba. One city boasted a community garden spanning four acres. The opportunity to meet participants from all over the world was another benefit to the conference.

“It was great to have that broader view,” Parker said. “I think that there was a lot of good that can come out of looking at ways to encourage more participation and people promoting things like the community garden.”